Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that is good news by all means. But would the Minister commit today that he will make every process and possibility of happening that we create accreditation for either Supreme Court justices in the Northwest Territories to perform this duty, or someone else applicable that could do this duty? Would he make that commitment that we could do this and work towards this right away? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'd like to move that committee report progress. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think we continue to avoid the fact that we're spending money that doesn't belong to us, and we've negotiated it into an interest-free loan, by avoiding it and putting it as a burden on the next government. So my awe-inspiring question to the Minister of Finance, whom I have a lot of respect for, is, what, then, will the Minister do to ensure that this government will conduct its finances with integrity and true responsibility, and we don't leave the next government and the next Assembly with any type of burden from our willy-nillyness on dealing with...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To put it in perspective, almost $300 million is approximately 30 percent of this government's budget. By redrafting a fiscal management policy, still doesn't speak to the fact that we're spending money that does not belong to this government. So, Mr. Speaker, if the Minister will not commit to a fiscal policy that stipulates that overpayments be set aside and returned promptly, will the Minister consider a fiscal policy which stipulates that if any overpayment is to be treated as an interest-free loan, as he just pointed out, that money must be specifically voted on...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my Member’s statement is about fiscal responsibility and how it relates to the repayment of corporate income tax overpayment.

As all Members of this House know, we are well aware of how this Assembly has the unfortunate task or, I should say, the burden ahead of us in the next year to repay the federal government close to $300 million for its corporate overpayment tax that dates back to 2002.

This can no longer be pushed back or ignored by this government. When the last government realized -- that is the 14th Assembly -- over four years ago that it received an...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I would like to report progress.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. But we have to consider most loans are paid over 20, 25 or 30 years. This has to be paid back within four years; almost $300 million. Mr. Speaker, this government can never be taken responsibly, until we show that we can deal with overpayments like this in a responsible manner. So we need to be seen as a responsible government, cleaning up the last government's mess. Would the Minister have his officials at least conduct an inter-jurisdictional review of best practices of how federal overpayments are done, and received and taken care of in their provinces? Thank...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If I may just say I'd like to thank the students for coming today so they can see oral question period, see history being made, and they're part of it today by being in the gallery.

Mr. Speaker, hoping for the best isn't good or sound fiscal policy. I spoke earlier, in my Member's statement, about the $296 million in corporate tax overpayment that we received from the Government of Canada. We can no longer dodge this, or keep pushing it away, or even ignoring it. So my question to the Minister of Finance is, will the Minister have his officials look into fiscal...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are some loud rumours out there that say Imperial Oil is seriously considering pulling out of the oil and gas project. The rumour mill says that, despite the potential $500 million that the federal government has put on the table, Imperial still contends that the demands from the access and benefit agreement negotiations are still too high. Imperial Oil has not budged an inch, and they are not prepared to offer any more to the claimant groups, from what I have heard. If something is not done soon, in my opinion, the current plans to establish a pipeline in the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate hearing that news from the Minister. Mr. Speaker, my next question for the Minister is, does he have a policy that supersedes all policies about going south for sole source? Can I get some clarity on that to make sure that our northern contractors have an opportunity to bid on these? Again, if they lose them, that’s fine. They want to be able to compete and try fairly. Do we have that policy? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.